Wrench for fire sprinkler heads



April 24, 1962 c. R. SOUTH ETAL 3,030,840

WRENCH FOR FIRE SPRINKLER HEADS Filed April 21, 1960 Fig-.1. Fig: 2.

CJarence RMS'OUHI John V. Soui'h INVENTORS BY (@QQQW.

flied e This invention pertains to wrenches, and relates particularly to a wrench for installing and removing fire sprinkler heads.

Industrial and other public buildings are protected against destruction by fire, by means of a sprinkler system incorporating sprinkler heads normally installed in an overhead position, generally adjacent a ceiling. Original installation of the sprinkler heads and subsequent removal and replacement thereof heretofore has been accomplished with the aid of a conventional open-end wrench. The disadvantages attending this use are many, principal among which are the following: Installation and removal of the sprinkler heads by this means neceS- sitates the use of ladders or scaffolding in order to elevate the workmen to the position of the sprinkler head. The use of a conventional open-end wrench precludes the use of the gloves normally worn by the workmen, for such gloves generally are quite dirty and this dirt would be transferred to the ceiling. Thus, by not being protected with gloves, and in order to prevent skinning of the hand, the wrench must be held at an angle during manipulation. This results in frequent slipping of the wrench from the sprinkler head, often causing breakage of the exposed components of the head. Quite often, slippage of the wrench results in breaking of the components of the head which effect the water seal, thus resulting in subsequent water damage to the surrounding area.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a wrench by which to effect attachment and removal of overhead fire sprinkler heads with speed and facility, from the workmans position on the floor.

I Another important object of this invention is the provision of a wrench by which to support a fire sprinkler head firmly during attachment to and detachment from a sprinkler system, thus insuring against breakage or other damage of the head.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a wrench which is capable of adjustment for accommodating use with a variety of types and sizes of fire sprinkler heads.

A still further important object of this invention is the provision of a fire sprinkler head wrench which is of simplified construction for economical manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in rear elevation of a sprinkler head wrench embodying the features of the present invention, parts thereof being broken away to disclose internal details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the wrench shown in FIG. 1, as viewed from the right in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view from the top in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the wrench shown in FIG. 1, the same being shown in operative association with the conventional fire sprinkler head.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the wrench includes an elongated body member which is bifurcated at its upper end to provide the laterally spaced arms 12. The upper end portions 14 of these arms are atent 3,939,346 Patented Apr, 24, 1952 reduced in cross sectional dimension and are arranged for slidable reception in the laterally spaced openings 16 provided in the cap member 18. Set screws 20 are mounted in tapped openings in the cap member for releasably engaging the reduced end portions 14 of the spaced arms, for the purpose of securing the cap member releasably to the arms and in any desired position of adjustment in the longitudinal direction of the body member. Added stability for the cap member is provided by means of the guide post 22. This post is secured at its lower end to the body member and extends laterally rearward therefrom and thence laterally upward, parallel to the spaced arms 12, for sliding reception in an opening 24 provided adjacent the rearward side of the cap member.

The cap member is provided with a transverse slot 26 extending rearwardly from the front side thereof to a point forwardly of the rear side. For purposes explained more fully hereinafter, the lateral dimension of the slot is reduced at its upper side, thus providing a pair of inwardly directed lips 28.

A clamping member 30 is interposed between the upper end of the body member 10 and the cap member 18, and is provided with a downwardly extending guide post 32 which is received slidably in the upper end of a longitudinal bore 34 provided in the body member 10. A coil spring 36 is retained in the bore, bearing at its lower end against the bottom of the bore and bearing at its upper end against the guide post. The spring thus urges the clamping member resiliently upward toward the cap member 18. The clamping member is further guided by the rearward guide post 22 which extends freely through an opening 38 provided in the clamping member adjacent the rearward side thereof. A tab 40 projects rearwardly from the clamping member to facilitate hand manipulation of the latter, if desired.

The clamping member preferably is provided with an upstanding wall 42 which encloses the sides and rear end of the member. This wall functions to maintain a sprinkler head properly aligned on the wrench, as explained more fully hereinafter.

The lower end of the body member 10 is provided with means by which to attach an operating handle. In the embodiment illustrated, such means is provided by the square or other non-circular socket 44. This socket may receive a corresponding male plug provided on a and preferably, an elongated extension bar is interposed between the socket 44 and the operating handle, in order to permit overhead use of the wrench from the workmans position on the floor.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 5 of the drawing, there is shown for illustration a sprinkler head of conventional design. This head includes a hollow body 50 having a coupling end 52 adapted for attachment to the water conduit of a sprinkler system. A decorative escutcheon cap 54 generally is employed to conceal this coupling end, the escutcheon cap being arranged to abut the adjacent surface of the ceiling. The body 50 is squared along two opposing sides 56, for receiving a wrench by which to rotate the head during attachment and detachment.

Extending downwardly from the body 50 is an annular ring 58 provided with means at its lower end for supporting a Water deflector 60. A valve within the sprinkler head is retained in sealed position by means of the spaced fingers 62 which are connected together releasably by means of the lead link 64. As is well known, the incidence of a fire in proximity to the sprinkler head causes the lead link to melt and thus release the fingers and open the valve in the sprinkler head. Water under pressure in the sprinkler system thereupon is ejected through the open valve, from whence it impinges upon the deflector 60 and is thus converted to a lateral water spray of substantial area.

When the wrench is to be used to install a sprinkler head in an overhead sprinkler system, the wrench body member is held by one hand and the sprinkler head by the other hand. The deflector 60 is placed upon the front end of the clamping member 30 and, by downward pressure exerted on the head, the clamping member is forced downwardly from the cap member 18 a distance sufficient to permit the squared sides 56 of the sprinkler head body to be inserted in the slot 26 of the cap member. The inwardly projecting lips 28 overlie these squared sides of the body, between the latter and the escutcheon cap 54, as illustrated in FIG. 5. I

It will be understood that as the sprinkler head body is pushed into the slot, the deflector 60 also moves rearwardly onto the clamping member, where it is confined against lateral displacement by the upstanding wall 42.

The upward pressure exerted by the coil spring 36 on the clamping member serves to clamp the sprinkler head resiliently but firmly between the latter and the cap member. In this position the sprinkler head is retained on the wrench, and the latter then may be manipulated to the overhead position for attaching the sprinkler head to the system, by rotating the wrench. When attachment is completed, the wrench is moved rearwardly, the cap member 18 thus sliding out of engagement with the sprinkler head body 50 and the clamping member 30 sliding out of engagement with the deflector 60.

Conversely, when it is desired to remove a sprinkler head firom its installed overhead position, the wrench is raised to the overhead position, at which the deflector 60 engages the clamping member 30. Further upward movement of the wrench thus depresses the clamping member to the proper distance below the cap member 18 at which the squared sides 56 of the sprinkler head body may enter the slot 26 in the cap member. The wrench then is pushed in the forward direction to resiliently clamp the sprinkler head between the clamping member and cap member, as described hereinbefore.

It is to be noted that the inwardly directed lips 28 serve to secure the cap member 18 in fixed position relative to the sprinkler head, and thus prevent the cap member from engaging the upper valve finger 62. This insures against breakage of the components of the sprinkler head during manipulation of the wrench.

A plurality of cap members 18 may be provided, each with a slot 26 dimensioned to accommodate a diiferent type and size of sprinkler head. In this manner the wrench may be used with all conventional types and sizes of sprinkler heads.

Thus, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a wrench of simplified construction, and therefore economical manufacture, by which the attachment and detachment of overhead fire sprinkler heads is accommodated with speed and facility from the remote position of the workmen on the floor. Use of the wrench of this invention not only avoids disfiguring of the adjacent ceiling area, but also reduces to a minimum the incidence of breakage or other damage to the sprinkler head during attachment and detachment.

The Wrench of this invention also may be used with tools and devices other than sprinkler heads, the only requirement being that such a tool or device be provided with a non-circular drive section comparable to the noncircular drive section 56 of the sprinkler head described hereinbefore. Thus, for example, the wrench may be used with a drive socket for removing and installing pipe plugs. It may also be used with a thread tap. In either instance the drive socket or tap must be provided with a non-circular drive section for receiving the slot 26 or lips 28.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the size, shape and arrangement of parts described hereinbefore. For example, the clamping member 30 may be omitted if thedegree of stability provided by it is not required. The cap member may be formed integral with the body member. The lips 28 or other forms of projections may be provided intermediate the top and bottom edges of the sides forming the slot 26. These and other modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described our invention and the manner in which it may be used, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. For use with a rotatable device having a non-circular drive section intermediate its ends, a wrench comprising a body member having a downwardly extending longitudinal guideway, a cap member on the body member, the cap member having means for releasably engaging the non-circular drive section of a rotatable device, a clamping member mounted on the body member, a downwardly extending post on said clamp member slidably mounted in said guideway, and resilient means confined in said guideway and engageable with said post for urging said clamping member toward said cap member in spaced relation to the cap member for supporting a rotatable device releasably between said cap and clamping members.

2. The wrench of claim 1 wherein the cap member is mounted removably on the body member.

3. The wrench of claim 1 including adjustment means releasably interengaging the cap member and body member for adjusting the cap member longitudinally with respect to the body member.

4. The wrench of claim 1 wherein the cap member is provided with an open ended, bottom-opening slot for receiving the non-circular drive section of a rotatable device, and inward projections on the upper portion of the cap member slot for engaging the rotatable device adjacent the non-circular drive section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 595,975 Shryock Dec. 21, 1897 1,218,109 Neeley Mar. 6, 191'] 1,408,444 Collins Mar. 7, 1922 1,410,888 Carlson Mar. 28, 1922 1,764,990 Schultz June 17, 1930 1,840,150 Bodendieck Jan. 5, 1932 

